JD(U)'s TN unit president resigns

K Rajasekaran resigned protesting against the JD(U)'s decision against aligning with the BJP for the polls.

The JD-U's Tamil Nadu unit received a jolt on Monday with its president K Rajasekaran resigning from the post, protesting against the JD(U) high command's decision against aligning with the BJP for the state assembly polls.

In a letter to the JD(U) President Sharad Yadav, a copy of which was made available to the press, Rajasekaran said the state unit had already taken a decision to fight the polls jointly with the BJP.

But George Fernandes a senior JD(U) leader, had said the party would contest 60 seats, with the support of the backward Nadar community people, without consulting the state unit, Rajasekaran said.

The national leadership had also decided to stick to the decision, he said adding national general secretary Arun Kumar and party's former election officer Anil Hegde advised the state unit to abide by the leadership's decision.

"Being a disciplined party worker,I accepted their words and has written a letter to BJP's Tamil Nadu unit that we are not with them in the assembly elections," he said.

"But my inner conscience does not permit me to continue as the JD(U)'s state unit president since I am unable to honour my agreement with the BJP. I feel that my decision to accept the national party's decision is tantamount to showing disrespect to my own commitment to the BJP's Tamil Nadu unit and hence I am resigning," he said.